My stories have not gone down well with fellow Norwich fans who seem to think I desperately want our most successful manager in generations to leave.

That is categorically not the case but I am simply doing my job as a reporter revealing what I believe is Lambert's interest in the Villa Park position.

For any cynics out there, surely Lambert's repeated refusal to publicly commit himself to Carrow Road says a lot.

Villa owner Randy Lerner is not short of contenders because his club does have a lot of potential.

Villa's stadium, training facilities and fan-base are among the best in the country - certainly among the top eight clubs I believe.

And from 2007-2010, the club came sixth in three successive seasons and nearly qualified for the Champions League.

I think a manager who can wheel and deal successfully could really quickly turn around Villa's fortunes dramatically.

Lambert,42, has obviously already performed such a rebuilding task at Carrow Road so is well qualified after inheriting a mess in 2009 and guiding the club to League One, then promotion from the Championship and now top-flight survival in successive seasons.

And I think a really dynamic, top manager could have a big impact at Villa by overhauling their expensively-assembled squad.

Darren Bent: still much to offer (Image: Getty)

Shay Given and Darren Bent make up a decent top and tail of the side and are set to remain at the club.

But defenders like Stephen Warnock, Richard Dunne and James Collins have all had their best days at Villa surely.

The trio are now entering the final year of their contracts and will all probably be sold if the club receive any satisfactory bids.

While out of contract players like Emile Heskey, Brad Guzan and Carlos Cuellar have already cleared out their lockers at the club.

Emile Heskey: out of contract (Image: Neville Williams)

Their exits alone will have trimmed £100,000-a-week from the club's bloated wage bill.

And Jermaine Jenas' ill-fated loan is also up which provides another hefty saving.

I understand it means Lerner is willing to give Villa's new boss plenty of room for manoeuvre in the transfer market with a view to Bosman signings and value for money additions now he has reduced the club's wage bill from a unsustainable £80million.

I can't see Villa signing anyone now in addition to Brett Holman (secured by McLeish on a pre-contract) until they have a new manager.

But I am told if Villa's new boss comes in and targets a big-name signing then Lerner will consider sanctioning it - using his own funds if necessary.

He did it for Gerard Houllier to buy Bent and for McLeish to get Charles N'Zogbia.

So I anticipate around eight players leaving including the aforementioned quartet and a similar amount of arrivals.